Why Gwalior Fort called The Gibraltar of India

Gwalior fort is also called the Gibraltar of India. Was entitled as ‘Gibraltar of India’ by the Mughal Emperor Babur. Babur reigned in the 15th century. It was called so because it provides panoramic sights of the old Gwalior town. Fort was built by a local king named Suraj Sen in 600 CE.

A saint named Gwalipa came to the fort and met the king. King was suffering from leprosy. When saint Gwalipa offered him some water from a sacred pond (located within the fort). He immediately became healthy. As a thankful gesture to the saint, the king named the fort and the town Gwalior.

Location

Gwalior Fort, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India

How to reach Gwalior Fort

By Flight – Gwalior airport is connected by air transport from some regions not all over India. Your journey is from your location to New Delhi to Gwalior. Gwalior airport is in Maharajpura and is around 10 km distance from Gwalior fort. After reaching the Gwalior airport you have many options to reach Gwalior Fort through private taxi or local transport etc.

By Train – Gwalior railway station is well connected by other railway stations. Gwalior railway station and is around 4 km distance from Gwalior Fort. After reaching the Gwalior railway station you have many options to reach Gwalior Fort through private taxi or local transport etc.

By Bus – Gwalior is well connected by road transport with all over India. Gwalior bus stand and is around 6 km distance from Gwalior Fort. After reaching the Gwalior bus stand you have many options to reach Gwalior Fort through private taxi or local transport etc.

Established monuments inside the fort

There are several monuments have been established inside the Gwalior Fort campus. We are trying to introduce some of the monuments that are follows…

1. Sahasrabahu Temple

Sahasrabahu Temple or Harisadanam temple is also known as Sas Bahu Temples. Constructed in 11th century is dedicated to Vishnu in his Padmanabha form in Gwalior Fort. know more

2. Man Singh Palace

The impressive Man Singh Palace dominates the structures inside the Gwalior Fort. It is constructed by Tomar Rajput ruler Man Singh Tomar between 1486 and 1517. Two halls, circular in shape and supported by columns, on the lower level were designed to keep temperatures down during summer. These halls had unique channels built into the walls for people to speak to each other from their respective places. These halls were later turned into prisons by the Mughals. The Jauhar Kund, though locked now, is also located inside the palace.

3. Chaturbhuj Temple

Chaturbhuj is a Hindu temple excavated in a rock face in the Gwalior Fort. Is constructed in 875 AD, by Alla, the son of Vaillabhatta a nagar brahmin. It is a relative small temple with a square plan of 12 feet side. The temple has a portico at its entrance supported by four carved pillars. The pillars show reliefs of individuals meditating in yoga asana position, as well as amorous couples. know more

4. Gujari Mahal

The palace of Gujari Mahal was built by Tomar Rajput ruler Man Singh Tomar for his wife Mrignayani. Mrignayani belonged to Gujjar tribe. She demanded a separate palace for herself with a regular water supply through an aqueduct from the nearby Rai River. The palace has been converted into an archaeological museum. know more

5. Teli ka Temple

Teli ka Mandir is also known as Telika Temple. It is a Hindu temple located within the Gwalior Fort. Is dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Matrikas. It has been variously dated between the early 8th and early 9th century CE. It is an atypical design for a Hindu temple. As it has a rectangular sanctum instead of the typical square. It integrates the architectural elements of the Nagara style and the Valabhi prasada. The temple is based on a Gurjara Pratihara-Gopagiri style North Indian architecture. know more

6. Assi Khamba ki Bawdi

This is the beautiful Assi Khamba ki Bawdi (Gwalior Fort, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh). It was built by the great Maharaja Man Singh Tomar of Gwalior (around 1500 AD). According to tradition, this huge Bawdi (step well) was built by the ancient Hindu engineers of Man Singh’s kingdom in just 5 days.

In 1505 Sikandar Lodhi declared war and invaded Gwalior. In response, Man Singh ordered the Gwalior fort to be garrisoned. He ordered the construction of this huge Bawdi for storing water during the siege. This Bawdi needed to be built in just 5 days. Know More

7. Suraj Kund

According o legend a hermit named Gwalipa who lived in the grounds of the Fort cured Suraj Sen of leprosy by giving him a drink from the water tank (Suraj Kind). The legend continues that the waters have magical powers.